The Mental Health Stigma In The Black Community (1943 hits)
By Dr. Tonya Hucks-Bradshaw, BDO Contributing Writer is a licensed clinical psychologist and a former Minority Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA).
(BlackDoctor.org)--Only one-third of Americans with a mental illness or a mental health problem get care. Sadly, the percentage of African Americans receiving needed care is only half that of non-Hispanic whites.
One study reported that nearly 60% of older African American adults were not receiving needed mental health services, and currently, suicide rates among young black men are as high as those of young white men, and increasing.
Overall, African Americans are over-represented in the high-need populations that are particularly at risk for mental illnesses - but not getting the help they need.
• Blacks make up about 40% of the homeless population.
• Nearly half of all prisoners in State and Federal jurisdictions and almost 40% of juveniles in legal custody are African Americans.
• African American children and youth constitute about 45% of the children in public foster care/child welfare system and more than half of all children waiting to be adopted. Children in foster care and the child welfare system.
• African Americans of all ages are more likely to be victims of serious violent crime than are non-Hispanic whites. One study reported that over 25% of African American youth exposed to violence met diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
So why aren't more African Americans getting the mental health care that they need?
Q: Dear Dr. Tonya:
Today, there are so many people in the Black community that suffer from some form of mental illness, yet our community is one the largest groups to not seek treatment for their condition. Perhaps there are several reasons for this, but I’ve read that one large part has to do with the ongoing stigma that still exists regarding mental illness. Is this true? If so, why?
A: One of the reasons why I believe there is still such a strong and pervasive stigma about mental illness within the black community is from lack of knowledge about mental illness and the impact that mental illness often has on physical well-being. For example, depression has been associated with suppressed immune system functioning due to chronic inflammation as a result of stress. In fact, many providers view some mental illnesses as medical illness because of the impact on the body.
Another reason that African-Americans may be wary of mental illness awareness and treatment is related to past treatment from the medical community, such as the Tuskeegee experiment. Unfortunately, history has shown that the medical community has not always had the best interests of African-Americans and other minority groups in mind. As a result, persons within minority communities may be less likely to receive help from medical providers, especially when it comes to mental health.
Although events from the past cannot be undone, it is important to establish positive, open communication with a trusted provider so that symptoms can be caught early and treated. It is also important to remember that mental illness is not a flaw in one’s character and a person is not weak if they seek treatment. In fact, it oftentimes is an act of courage to seek help.
